Anne Pliska

I just applied my Lucky Scent sample... and oh yes, this IS a kissing cousin (or perhaps sister?) of Obsession in its middle development. No it doesn't have the deep earthy complexity, or the bracing green herbal va-va-voom opening...and no, it does not end up like musky Obsession either. But they do smell related in a wafting, ethereal way during the dry down flow of this wonderful perfume. In fact the opening is a bit oriental like Kenzo Flower Oriental in that it is light, and reminiscent, to my nose,also of Mauboussin Mauboussin. But this is fleeting, because the amber-orange-vanilla composition takes center stage. And here is where I am reminded of one of my favorites: Aquolina's Chocolovers. It is not that I can detect the orange so much as the orange is wrapped up and cradled by the vanilla/amber and thus blends to create an almost gourmand chocolate/powdery-sweet-vanilla in the same vein as Elixir Charnel Gourmand Coquin by Guerlain! And that is saying QUITE a lot my friends! As for the orange and chocolate combination: this is not an orange slice dipped in chocolate. That would elude to a "juicy" orange. No, this is really good expensive milk chocolate infused with the flavor of orange jam (or marmalade without the rinds). Sort of a Christmas chocolate-orange confection. This progresses seamlessly to a wonderful woody base. The progression is subtle, and takes about an hour on me. We end with a soft sweet-powder-vanilla (not heavy talc... but a light dusting of confectioner's sugar powder) that continues to tickle your Obsession memories now and again. The musk and patchouli are light and very respectable. Barely detectable to my nose. In re-reading my review, one would surmise that I find this to be a sweeeeeeeet fragrance, but really, it is not. It is a soft and subtle baby-sweet, not lollipop-teeny-bopper-sweet. Longevity... quite good. The progression from orange/chocolate opening to woody base is subtle and wonderful. I awoke this morning with that Anne Pliska's sweet confectioner's sugar powder smell! Therefore, I'd say, wear this on a night when you know you are going to have awesome sex with your partner, and they will never forget you!!! EDIT: I now OWN this! I bought the 1.7 oz EDP bottle. I was a little leery of the metallic bottle, but didn't want to pay for the larger glass bottle until I had lived with the less expensive amount first. I just have to say that, the 1.7 oz container is really pretty. Feels smooth, weighty, and good in your hand. The gold is shiny and bright, the pink is dusky mauve really. So, I'm actually happy about the purchase because I can stick this in my PURSE! The spray that comes out is a fine mist rather than a stream of wet, as many perfumes are. So, again, I'm pleased. 10 stars for the juice and 10 stars for the packaging! ***** *****

#1987 I really wish I knew more about this fragrance. Who made it? Who is keeping it in production? Who was Anne Pliska? What was her "vision" for her scent? This really smells timeless yet it was possibly a predecessor to Mugler's Angel which was released in 1992 as this is a Gourmand Patchouli. The notes tell most of the story. The orange is of the Zest and Essential Oil variety -- the orange is suffusive, and tenacious in the composition. It smells both rich and sweet at the same time. The geranium compliments the natural bitter aspects of the orange rind -- while adding a rich floral note that melds with the top. Be assured that this is simply Geranium and does not have a trace of rose or rose geranium. The patchouli is the succulent, rich part -- it smells like velvety dark chocolate. The Orange is still present so for awhile it smells like smooth dark chocolate, geranium, and orange zest. It is such a beautiful accord, a gourmand before its time! Without sliding into any unbearable sweetness, it's all rich decadence all the way. The drydown is an ambery patchouli that still has hints of dark chocolate and oranges. I can't say it enough it is such an amazing combination of notes! Lasting power is amazing with a few sprays, and the perfume maintains that dark bitter geranium/orange zest -- decadent velvety dark chocolate -- grounding earthy patchouli for hours. Those three point of scent just make this work as a composition. I first read about this on nstperfume.com when they were still doing perfume reviews. The reviewer said that this is a perfect "Little Black Dress" scent and I can't agree more. Especially as a winter scent. This is gourmand done right, with a lot of sophistication, and no saccharine sweetness or gobs of vanilla to deal with.

"Oh my. Oh yes." Those words impulsively slip out in a contented mutter everytime I slip into this fantastic, decadent, indulgent warm cloud of a fragrance. There are three magical scents, from three very different sources, and they all share some fantastic similar notes and heady drydown: Shalimar, Obsession, and Pliska. Of the three, Pliska is the stately, refined and mysterious member of the family, more elegant than Obsession, softer and a touch more natural than Shalimar. Rich heavy amber from top to finish, and I could stop right there by simply talking of nothing but this decadent, sweet, un-adulterated, polished amber. In much smaller, supporting roles, there are fruit and flower notes. Make no mistake, nothing resembling fruity candy is here; its more the tannins and heavy nectars giving their notes. This is fruit ready to be taken to the vitners, fruit that is over-ripe and dripping. The floral notes are also earthy, heavy and concentrated - these are not daisies in sunshine - instead, think of deep red geraniums thriving in the heavy shade of a gothic garden. Of course, the amber, musk and deep vanilla finish this masterpiece, and leave one feeling as if wrapped in the most expensive of silks and cashmere. So delightful, so rich, so...... absolutely excellent. Grab this gem while you can - I fear it's very limited production may be entirely discontinued one day....

I was looking for a replacement for the warm and cozy L de Lolita by Lolita Lempicka, which was discontinued some time ago, and I certainly found it in Anné Pliska. I have the parfum concentration, but there is also an EdP. The parfum comes in a tiny etched crystal bottle with stopper, and it's beautifully presented in a gold box tied with pink ribbon. What a girly treat! (In the bottle pictured above, the juice appears to be neon pink, but be warned that it is not! It is a dark amber color. There is no pink in the bottle at all). The scent itself is a gorgeous vanillic amber laced with incense and a hint of bitter orange that lasts for hours, just like L de Lolita. There is nothing that smells synthetic or chemical. In fact this is one of the smoothest amber-based perfumes I have ever smelled, and it makes me wonder about the % of natural ingredients. Seems high. I understand this rather obscure perfume has quite the cult following. Anné Pliska is the perfect perfume for just about all women. It is fine enough for a special occasion, cozy enough to wear under a sweater on a chilly night at home, and definitely sexy enough for romance. Sillage is great, and longevity is commendable as well. Vanilla lovers should not pass up.

Luscious labdanum amber is the primary name of the ANNE PLISKA game. Wow, what a seductive perfume this is! I love the mingling of the amber with the patchouli and geranium and a dash of vanilla. Although this composition is simple and fairly linear, the quality of the notes is high and their proportions perfect to my nose. In contrast to other reviewers, I find very little in common between ANNE PLISKA and SHALIMAR. Yes, they both contain vanilla, but the focus of AP is amber, while SHALIMAR strikes me as a more complex, bluish oriental perfume. Golden and viscous, ANNE PLISKA has pretty big sillage and fantastic longevity. All in all, this is one of the best amber perfumes I have smelled in any category (including niche) and a fantastic value for its modest price tag. This edp is even on the strong side, veering toward perfume, which is a nice change from the trend at many (not all...) niche houses to bottle cologne as edp--making the already high prices of their wares ridiculous. I recommend ANNE PLISKA unequivocally to anyone who loves amber. A small caveat: without being overwhelming, the patchouli is noticeable--of course, that's just more good news for patchouli lovers!